Photobleaching is a phenomenon observed in cannabis plant, especially in flowering buds, as a result of chlorophyll degradation. Typically, growers would observe a bleached or white bud on the upper canopy of the plant. They should be aware that this phenomenon is cultivar dependent. Different cultivars will have varying responses and certain cultivars never express this phenomenon during their lifecycle.
The main cause of this phenomenon is linked to the lighting.
Quantity: It is often observed that with a higher light intensity, above 1200 micromoles/m2/sec, some cultivars will experience chlorophyll degradation, and hence photobleaching, during the buds’ active development stage. It is also linked to the distance between the bud and the light fixture ― the closer the bud, the higher the intensity.
Quality: It has been observed that this phenomenon is more prevalent under a light spectrum with a higher red wavelength. In grower trials it has been observed that the possibility of photobleaching is reduced when the red wavelength percentage is
between 50 to 55%. However, since this phenomenon is also dependent on the quantity of light, it is important to adjust the light intensity because plants would still end up with a photobleached bud.
Solution: With Sollum’s dynamic LED fixtures, growers can adjust the light intensity and the spectrum to meet the needs of the cultivar. With Sollum’s SUN as a Service® (SUNaaS®) cloud platform, growers can create distinct zones for each cultivar within the same compartment or on the same bench, all without rewiring, and customize the light intensity and spectrum for each zone/cultivar. This unique solution ensures the quality of each plant in the grow room or greenhouse, helping growers cultivate the best products and maintain their market share.